Campervan in Switzerland

A snowHead

Hi

My girlfriend and I are setting off travelling europe in August and will be looking to settle down somewhere with jobs for a winter skii season. The idea we had in our heads for a while was to do this in Morzine but to be frank we haven't had time to do much research at all with converting the camper van that we are going to be living in, so with the deadline closing in we are starting to do some research on where is really going to be best for us to spend those 5-6 months.

The main reason for Morzine was "free accommodation" ie in our van to save money BUT if we could make better money, have hookup and still be better off financially then that is a win win.

We have heard of a few people doing a camper winter season in Morzine already with success but after looking into jobs and getting some advice from the friendly folk on this forum Switzerland seems like a real possibility.

The main bug bear is that we we did briefly look into it and the campervan sites seemed to be closed in Switzerland through the winter. So basically to start can anyone recommend a resort that is close to a campervan site that is either walking distance to the slopes or that has access to lifts to the slopes.

Thanks in advance people Smile

A snowHead

@no.strife_vanlife, well in Switzerland I know the Jungfrau Camping in Lauterbrunnen is certainly open in winter. It seems they do an all winter season rate (from 1 October 2019 to 30th April 2020) which includes free skishuttle service to Lauterbrunnen (from where you can reach the Murren slopes on one side or the Wengen slopes on the other side). I know the on site restaurant at Jungfrau camping is very good as I've eaten there several times with friends when we've been staying in an apartment in Lauterbrunnen.

As an alternative suggestion to Switzerland have you considered the Italian Dolomites? Fantastic huge ski area in the Sella Ronda (many snowHeads are familiar with the area because of the annual sHs Birthday Bash held in Arabba). Directly on the Sella Ronda at Colfosco you get a good view on the lift of a camping site there which is certainly in use in winter, and is just a few hundred meters from the slopes. Their website is here: https://www.campingcolfosco.org/en

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Crans Montana has a site next to the slopes. The site in Morzine isn't particularly near to the skiing. The site in Chatel is better.

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@no.strife_vanlife, the option in Crans Montana might be worth looking into. Crans Montana is on the magic pass which is a great deal for the area and I think (I've not yet been there) it's bigger than Lauterbrunnen.

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@no.strife_vanlife
Yes there are a few hotels and restaurants in Lauterbrunnen, more of course in the nearby ski resorts (Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald) and Interlaken. Sorry, can't help with places requiring a Nanny, although I would have though that would be more likely in one of the 3 ski resorts as families would use them when they are out skiing.

As regards the skiing, well the Jungfrau region is one of the best known ski areas in Switzerland! I've been many times (I'm a regular as I'm a member of a ski club in Wengen). It has great scenery too with the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains and of course Wengen has the Lauberhorn World Cup Men's Downhill race (the longest downhill race course on the World Cup circuit). In addition over on the Mürren side there's the Schilthorn (with the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant and visitor centre which was Blofeld's mountain top lair in the 1969 James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" ) and there is a nice black run down from the top of it.

Edit: I don't know how easy it would be to get a job in Switzerland if you only speak English, I expect to a certain extent it depends on the type of job e.g if it's a customer facing job like in a shop or waiting on tables I'd expect they'd want you to speak the local language (which incidentally in that region is Swiss German, a very strong dialect of normal German - think broad Glaswegian compared to BBC standard English Laughing

). However if it's a non customer facing job (like working in a kitchen) I don't suppose it would be a problem. Also of course I don't know what the rules are in Switzerland for foreigners getting a job, I know many foreigners are employed in the tourist trade in Switzerland, but you'd need to look into the formalities (and of course it could all change if and when Brexit occurs.....)

@no.strife_vanlife, The camp site in Crans Montana is located by a lake about a 10 minute walk uphill to the Gondola. Several bars & cafes all within walking distance with two literally a stones throw. This is a twin village/town so two centre's both within walking distance.There is also a frequent bus to the gondola & back. Not sure how you would go on trying to get a job though. Be aware also it is very expensive there. There is a UK ski TO that uses a big hotel/sport centre for school ski trips also just a few minutes walk from the site. Try them:-the aptly named The SKI COMPANY. HQ in Greenwich London.

You know it makes sense.

I saw this one when there skiing, just opposite the ski lift and return to that part of the valley. Access to PdS area from Swiss side, extensive village of Champéry with attendant commercial aspect for work possibilities. Village bus loop stops here plus train connect in main village centre.

https://www.eurocampings.co.uk/switzerland/valais/champery/campsite-du-grand-paradis-107033/

I've not used, so facilities and season opening you'll have to research. Very nice valley to stay in though.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@no.strife_vanlife, We've spent uo to 2 months away in our motorhome for the past 8 years visiting various corners of the Alps. I wouldn't want to stay somewhere like Lauterbrunnen for more than a week or two because it's down in the biggest hole in Europe, when you are living in a small box it's nice to get as much sun as possible during the day. Also campsites work out quite expensive and can be a fair way up to the slopes, especially Swiss and Austrian ones ones likes Lauterbrunnen which are going to cost you >£40 a day. Camping Colfosco is sunnier and close to the slopes but a similar price, the aire at Arabba is a lot cheaper.

Since you are working and will want to stay in one resort then you might be best looking at an aire right on the slopes, somewhere like La Plagne, Vars or Valloire where you can stay long term with hookup and services for £10-£15 a night. Most French aires have a time limit or charge a punitive amount over 7 days, eg Les Gets.

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A snowHead

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Serre Chevalier could be an option?
There's a free carpark right at the foot of the slopes in Monetier, that seems to have a few full-time residents. No hookup of course but no fees either. With 450w of good panels you should be able to farm 2kwh on a sunny day (about 150ah) although that will be significantly reduced if you can't tip them toward the sun. The optimal angle in Dec/Jan at that latitude is around 67°.

I've no idea about work but Mel@EurekaSKI or sucette might know something as they're locals.

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the camper Van / Motorhome site in SAmnaun is opern all year...

http://www.camping-sport-samnaun.ch/

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@no.strife_vanlife, Firstly, apologies for the confusion over the pdf page numbers, it was page 5 on the link I gave you after all (I'd been looking at a different document).

Secondly, you said about the Jungfrau campsite "season pitch from oct to april €1780 one off payment, which is more than reasonable." Actually it's not 1780 Euros, it's 1780 Swiss Francs (CHF) and you get more Swiss Francs to the £ than Euros Wink

(£1 is currently approx 1.11 Euros but £1 is currently approx 1.25 CHF)

Thirdly, as BoardieK said Lauterbrunnen is situated in a deep valley so is in the shade for much of the day, but as you said if you're out during the day (either working or hopefully skiing!) then that shouldn't be too much of a problem. You asked about LPG, I think the Jungfrau camping website for their shop/kiosk says they keep both Campinggaz and Vitogaz (whatever that is). Electricity at 0.50CHF per kWhr equates to 40p per kWhr (According to this site the average UK price is about 16p per kWhr including VAT, but in the UK there's a standing charge on top of about 20p per day on top), how much you use will depend on how well insulated your campervan is - is it "winterised" i.e good insulation both for the van and the fresh and waste water tanks?

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@BoardieK, I suppose it depends how fit you are? 10 min 20 mins?

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A no deal Brexit will probably mean 3 month maximum tourist visas for mainland Europe. Switzerland will probably follow suit. Of course when you leave and return the tourist visa clock is reset. Probably worth a visit to Andorra, to get your visa updated if this is the outcome.

When I went travelling in the USA, a hop over the border to Canada would reset the visa each time you cross the border. However, it is not certain that this will be how Europe will work after we leave.

Given 31/10/2019 is the next deadline, and the odds are 9/4 on a no deal Brexit and 1/3 on a deal or a delay, it is probably not worth worrying about for this season.

The other thing which may be introduced will be evidence of means to support yourself in Europe for the time you are there. Bank statement, credit cards, insurance etc or a sponser. Difficult to say what the new visa requirements will be for work. One has to assume that people will recruit on the basis that there is no change, however in reality they will recruit on what ever basis protects their business best.

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@LittleBullet, there is a separate ‘bucket’ of visas for UK nationals post Brexit in CH. It will still be easier to employ EU nationals than Brits but not as hard as 3rd country nationals who have to pay $$$$ for their visas.

Do you speak French, German or Italian?

The cost of living is ridiculous in Switzerland and even higher in resort.

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Thanks for the reply people. Yes sorry Alastair I did mean swiss francs i don't know why I put Euro's

I will bear this in mind about Brexit but like Bigtipper has said we are approaching with a not to worry about it approach at the moment, we have enough stuff to sort out before we go.

Neither of us speak any other language. Who thinks this would be a problem in Switzerland? Neither of us have been. We are just trying to figure out what is going to be best for us financially.

In the UK we both have pretty well payed jobs and don't like the idea of low pay, high hours and low skii time. We could've we compromising on one of those areas but we arnt getting the p taken out of us like some of the companies in Morzine seem to be doing to expats.

Cheeky Monkeys got back in touch with my gf about a position and after two emails asking what the wages would be they basically said they wouldn't tell her. Very unprofessional not being transparent with wages if you ask me. Their excuse.... "they want her main motivation to be to want to work for the company" what a joke, people work to earn money we aren't going through all that nonsense you used to get when you were a kid and fresh on the job scene.

As far as Nannying down in Lauterbrunnen are would it be a problem if you did not speak any German/Swiss?
She is more worried about it than me tbh I am happy to just turn up and go find a job.

We have heard about the cost of living too so like I said we are trying to find what is best financially but also the best lifestyle for the time we are their too. It is about the experience too after all. We won't be doing anything lavish so apart from groceries and the odd venture out we should be able to keep spends relatively low. I hear that Morzine is also very expensive too though. People do a commute to do their big shop to keep costs down.

Thanks for the replies

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I would not have put swiss supermarkets that much different in price from british - meat may be a bit more but booze is cheaper. Where the cost of living really hits is eating out. There is a co-op in Lauterbrunnen and a couple of larger places, coop and ano (?Migros) in interlaken and may be a Lidl. Lauterbrunnen also has a butcher and baker (but as far as I am aware no candlestickmaker.....). Last time i was in jungfrau prices for a beer seemed reasonable around the place. Cannot coimment on other resorts othdr than on a recdnt cycle holiday we were gobsmacked by the price of wine in restaurants although the beer was OK - could say the ame of some places in the UK as well. I have certainly met people skiing in the past who had been at the Lauterbrunnen site and no bad words - main comment was how well equipped it was.

@no.strife_vanlife, If you want to work then that will drive where you end up for the season. Most of the "Big" companies offset pay against accommodation, lift passes and food etc, so they're probably not your best bet. Childcare is almost always linked to a package company unless you can find an independent operator who needs someone. You're more likely to be find casual jobs like transfer drivers and chalet cleaners in the big resorts. Austria always struggles to find manual workers for minimum wage, but you have to be realistic. I pay my Changeover Staff on piece work. For example, €140 Euros for Meet and Greet and apartment cleaning on a Saturday, which works out at €30 per hour but that's only once a week. (doubled for 2 apartments obviously). This is above Austrian Minimum wage, but I am in this business to make a profit.

To those recommendations above I would add the following where I did Camper Seasons like you're intending to do. I am a Ski Instructor so work wasn't the driver.

St Anton: https://www.camping-arlberg.at/en

Located in the village of Pettnau, a 5 min bus ride from St Anton. Season Pitches available but not the number of days you can use them. Each pitch has a hut next to it with Bathroom, Drying Room etc. On site Wellness Centre.

Grand Bornand: http://www.campinglescale.com/?lang=en

Popular with British Families as it is only 90 Mins from Geneva. No big UK companies in town so more opportunities for employment perhaps, linked by bus to La Clusaz and the "Ski Aravis" pass.

Good luck.

You know it makes sense.

@Nadenoodlee, very interesting insight thanks for that. I'll dig out the legislation that certainly provides some food for thought.

@no.strife_vanlife, re pay, I've never had a company tell me how much they would pay until after the job offer, at that point I start negotiating. I use emolument and Glassdoor (and mates in my industry) to get a feel for my pay vs the market, perhaps they also have data for the ski resort jobs.

I'm over in Switzerland for work quite a lot and agree with @countryman, eating out is the big cost even at the cheaper places dropping 30-40chf is easily done. Supermarkets in resort are expensive, but if you have camper you can drive down the valley to a town.

What you could consider is finding a part time job in a valley/town, buy a multi resort pass like the Magic Pass and drive the camper on your days off. Admittedly it'll be a totally different vibe.

What ever you decide, it'll be amazing!

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Ski Miquel are a British company with a Hotel and Chalet in Laterbrunnen - may need staff.?

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I have stayed here

http://www.schutzenbach.ch/

10 min walk to village centre, we left skis and boot somewhere near railway station but cant remember where ?

A snowHead

I lived in Morzine before I moved to Switzerland and still have an apartment there @no.strife_vanlife, price wise it’s cheaper than Switzerland- we stock up as much as we can when we go for the weekend (there’s limits to import). We always went down the valley to shop- for price and quality.

Regarding supermarkets in CH- absolutely more expensive than the UK. Significantly so. A weekly shop in COOP for a family of 3 with no alcohol and no meat racks up at 250chf a week on average. I paid 6chf for a cabbage one week.

When my husband and I did our first season in Morzine we saved ALOT before we went. We worked at the weekends (I did cleaning, he drove for a transfer company) and we paid for a season apartment. I also worked remotely one day a week. That gave us plenty of balance but we had the luxury of cash behind us.

A snowHead

@countryman, swiss supermarkets, at least near us in Geneva are significantly more expensive than the UK, expecially meat, fish and fresh produce. Mind you, the quality is significantly better and locally sourced.

@no.strife_vanlife, I think you are being a wee bit unrealistic.

Not all Swiss speak English, and so dealing with life’s admin can be challenging.

Most seasonal companies are relying on the staff being motivated by skiing.

Thee are no seasonal jobs that give all three of good wages, short hours, good skiing shifts. You may get 2 of the three but certainly not 3.

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I had a feeling that shopping would be more expensive, however neither of us eat meat and alcohol wouldn't be a necessity that we would buy often. Maybe a bottle of red every now and then. We have a good chunk of savings behind us but we would like to work for this leg of the trip.

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If you base yourself in a larger French ski area, town etc there will be plenty of opportunities to earn reasonable money if you are proactive and flexible once you are out there.
Things like changeover cleans, driving, snow clearing, babysitting, odd jobs, bar wok etc will all be available at various points during the season and will pay substantially more than a pre arranged tour op job per hour as well as giving you flexibility to ski as much as you can. Most areas/resorts will have some sort of a Facebook page for seasonaires where people will advertise for help etc.
I've done several part or whole seasons in France like this, pay for accom upfront, and pick up work when it's offered.
I may be wrong but I think France is the easiest Alpine country to do similar in due to the huge British market, you can get by without a lot of French.

If you want some more specific pointers to work send me a pm.

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@no.strife_vanlife, if you don’t eat meat that will help but I agree with the others that have said food in supermarkets is a lot more expensive in Switzerland than the UK. Not just meat, even basic vegetables can seem eye wateringly expensive at times. I’d advise running a weekly shop of things you cook in the van through the coopathome site (you can put it in English) and your normal supermarket in the uk to get a sense of the difference.

Have you tried asking the campsite if they take on seasonal staff?

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@no.strife_vanlife, not the wage you’d be getting paid in all likelihood. May also have visa costs but I don’t know what those would be - there may be a seasonal option. Permanent B permit was 200chf for us in august 2018.

No one does a season for the money. It’s a way of burning money but having a great time doing it.

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We used this company with our children a while ago now, exceptional service and staff that could give you enquiry line.

http://jackfrosts.net

Their current offering is referring to no service last season, the basis of which is not clear. Maybe worth a contact to find out potential in Morzine.

Help!!

Campervan in Switzerland

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